Wedding Venues West of Boston

Fruitlands Museum. / Photograph by Paul Robert Berman

Maybe you want a country wedding, but a destination fete in the backwoods of Maine isn’t in the cards. Or perhaps you’re yearning for a mountaintop soiree with 360-degree panoramas in New Hampshire, but Grandma just can’t make it up the ski lift. Whatever your style, you don’t have to travel far from Boston to find a dream venue—in fact, all you have to do is go west. “There are [many]opportunities to envision rustic weddings, which are really popular these days,” says Tasha Bracken, owner of the Wellesley Hills–based SD Events.

The event space at Concord’s Saltbox Farm—newly available for weddings—caters to couples looking for that authentically pastoral experience. The grounds offer an idyllic backdrop of grazing sheep and rows of planted vegetables, many of which chef-owner Ben Elliott uses to prepare custom menus for guests.

Looking for an elegant estate feel for your big day? Consider hosting loved ones at the Connors Center, an 80-acre swath of lush greenery and dramatic stone staircases in Dover. Exchange vows outdoors in the flower-laden St. Cecilia’s Garden before kicking off cocktail hour in the mahogany-paneled parlors of the main house, where you’ll also find lodging for out-of-towners.

For those prioritizing breathtaking scenery above all else, no venue-scouting excursion is complete without a stop at Harvard’s Fruitlands Museum. Perched above the orchards and hardwood forests of the Nashua River Valley, the museum’s event spaces offer panoramic vistas of the surrounding countryside.

Saltbox Farm
Head Count Up to 150 seated
Price Starting at $65 per person

The Connors Center
Head Count Up to 200 seated
Price Starting at $3,500, plus food and drink

Fruitlands Museum
Head Count Up to 192 seated
Price Starting at $1,500, plus food and drink

• • •

“Depending on where you are, the area has the added benefit of being a quick trip into the city if you wanted to provide guests with a different vibe for any prewedding festivities.”

Tasha Bracken, SD Events

• • •

Belkin Family Lookout Farm. / Courtesy Photo

Prewedding Adventure

There’s something for everyone at Natick’s Belkin Family Lookout Farm, one of the oldest continuously operating farms in the country. Opt for a family-friendly afternoon picking from more than 60,000 apple, pear, plum, or peach trees, or cater to the 21-and-over crowd with a tour and hard-cider tasting at the on-site taproom.

Guest Digs

Located on Route 9 in Natick, the recently renovated Verve Crowne Plaza welcomes visitors with swanky décor, aromatherapy kits in the guest rooms, and a bar and lounge specializing in craft cocktails.

Rehearsal Dinner

A cozy wood-burning fireplace adds to the warm vibe at Bondir Concord, where you’ll dine on pasture-raised meat and fresh produce—sourced from the restaurant’s 2-acre farm in nearby Carlisle—in the comfort of the private dining space.

DesignLight. / Courtesy Photo

Unique Vendor

Whether you’re imagining an ethereal canopy of twinkling Edison bulbs or a customized display of prismatic blue and purple beams, the illumination pros at Dover-based DesignLight know how to make your event shine.

Local Favor

Handcrafted in varieties like oatmeal honey and rosemary mint, Lexington Soaps’ organic bath products are a nourishing way to thank—and spoil—your loved ones.

Inn at Hastings Park. / Photograph by Michael J. Lee

Consider the Mini-Moon

After the cake is cut and the last glass of wine has been poured, find respite from your weekend of revelry at the history-rich Inn at Hastings Park, in Lexington. Comprised of three restored 19th-century buildings, the inn stuns with luxurious Brahms Mount woven blankets, gas fireplaces, and marble bathrooms.

DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. / Courtesy Photo

Take advantage of the complimentary breakfast (duck confit hash, perhaps?) before heading over to Lincoln’s DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, where you’ll find an extensive collection of photographs, paintings, and sculptures—many created by New England artists.

Artistry on the Green. / Courtesy Photo

For dinner, head back to the inn for a meal at Artistry on the Green, where locally sourced ingredients take top billing in such dishes as duck breast with roasted baby turnips, plum jam, and chanterelles.

Getting married? Start and end your wedding planning journey with Boston Weddings' guide to the best wedding vendors in the city.